{"data":{"id":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-143-720","jurisdiction":"us-nc","citation":"N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-720","heading":"Benefits and administration of Fund for compensatory programs.","body":"(a)\tFunds held in the Fund may be expended on compensatory programs as provided in this section.\n(b)\tThe Fund may provide direct and indirect financial assistance, in accordance with criteria established by the Commission and to the extent allowed by law, to accomplish the following:\n(1)\tIndemnify tobacco producers, allotment holders, and persons engaged in tobacco-related businesses from the adverse economic effects in this State of the Master Settlement Agreement.\n(2)\tCompensate tobacco producers, allotment holders, and persons engaged in tobacco-related businesses for economic loss resulting from lost quota and compensate tobacco producers for the decline in value of tobacco-related personal property assets and declining market conditions resulting from the Master Settlement Agreement in this State.\n(3)\tCompensate individuals displaced from tobacco-related employment in this State as a result of the adverse economic effects of the Master Settlement Agreement.\n(4)\tCompensate tobacco product component businesses that are (i) adversely impacted by the Master Settlement Agreement and that (ii) need financial assistance to retool machinery or equipment or to retrain workers, in order to convert to the production of new products or nontobacco use of existing products, or to effect other similar changes.\n(c)\tOnly tobacco producers, persons engaged in tobacco-related businesses, individuals displaced from tobacco-related employment, and tobacco product component businesses in this State, and holders of North Carolina tobacco allotments are eligible to apply for and receive assistance pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. Direct payments made to tobacco producers, tobacco allotment holders, and persons engaged in tobacco-related businesses shall be based on losses resulting in 1998 and thereafter. Lost quota shall be a primary determinative factor in calculating the amount of compensable economic loss for tobacco producers, allotment holders, and persons engaged in tobacco-related businesses.\n(d)\tThe Commission shall determine the priority of awards among the categories in subsection (b) of this section and within each of those categories.\n(e)\tFinancial assistance awards shall be for no more than one year at a time. An award may be renewed annually, without limitation.\n(f)\tThe Commission may require applicants to provide copies of documents necessary to determine compensable economic loss.\n(g)\tIn no event shall the amount paid to a tobacco producer or allotment holder pursuant to this Article, when combined with the amount received through the National Tobacco Grower Settlement Trust, exceed the compensable economic loss of the producer or allotment holder.\n(h)\tThe Commission may consider the criteria used for National Tobacco Grower Settlement Trust payments and may correspond with the National Tobacco Grower Settlement Trust certification entity to ensure that tobacco farmers and allotment holders are treated fairly. (2000-147, s. 3.)","path":["Chapter 143. State Departments, Institutions, and Commissions","Article 75. Tobacco Trust Fund"],"source_url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_143/GS_143-720.html","current_through":"S.L. 2026-30","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T18:22:33Z","sha256":"3f398a7dea4d88b136b60afb9902a85a30a91db5ae3c5862e208373cadeb42d6","source_id":"us-nc","stale":false,"prev":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-143-719","next":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-143-721"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}